'Dhaka now normal’

Authorities on Monday noon claimed that the law-and-order situation in the capital had returned to 'almost normal' after spate of violence in the past 24 hours.

Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP), Hassan Mahmood Khandker confirmed the return of normalcy at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). He had come to visit the injured law-keepers receiving treatments there.

Justifying police action on Sunday, he said, “Whatever police did for the security of the people was out of sheer patriotism.”

In the wee hours of Monday, law enforcers dispersed Hifazat-e Islam supporters from Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar after a 15-minute drive. Hifazat supporters were holding a rally there since 3:00pm on Sunday.

On Monday morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) had clamped prohibitory measures banning all forms of gathering with effect from 11:00am till midnight.

According to the IGP, 37 policemen were injured in clashes with Chittagong-based Hifazat-e Islam in the past two days (Saturday and Sunday). Among them, 30 were being treated at Rajarbagh Police Line while seven were admitted to Narayanganj General Hospital.

On Monday morning, at least two policemen and a trooper of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) died in the clashes in Narayanganj.